B.C. charter boat operator fined $5,000 for illegal crab fishing

One of the undersized crabs seized during the investigation is shown in this image from the court case. (DFO)

The operator of a fishing charter in Richmond, B.C., has been fined $5,000 for harvesting undersized crabs and possessing other illegally caught seafood.

In Richmond provincial court last month, Jichuan Shi was found guilty of possessing illegally caught fish, Fisheries and Oceans Canada said in a news release Tuesday.

The charge stemmed from what the DFO described as a “routine patrol” by fishery officers in Steveston Harbour on May 30, 2025.

The officers saw Shi’s charter returning to shore with eight people on board, according to the DFO.

An inspection found them in possession of one lingcod, eight rockfish, 19 Dungeness crabs and two Red Rock crabs.

Nine of the Dungeness crabs were smaller than the minimum carapace size of 165 millimetres, according to the DFO.

“In addition to these size violations, Mr. Shi admitted to possessing an additional lingcod not initially declared and to fishing with four crab traps registered to individuals who were not onboard the vessel,” the department’s release reads.

“Two of Mr. Shi’s clients were issued warnings under the B.C. Sport Fishing Regulations.”

The DFO said retaining undersized crabs negatively affects the sustainability of the stock and jeopardizes the “significant economic and cultural value” of the provincial crab fishery.

“This case underscores the responsibility of charter operators to maintain high compliance standards, especially when guiding clients who may not be familiar with federal and provincial fishing regulations,” the release reads.

Anyone who sees suspicious fishing activity or potential violations of the Fisheries Act is encouraged to report it by calling the DFO Pacific Region’s violation reporting line at 1‑800‑465‑4336 or emailing [e-mail].